Decolonizing Social Work with Indigenous Communities
Image shows title "Decolonziing Social Work with Indigenous Communities", followed by an image of a Winona LaDuke and a quote. Quote reads, "One of our people in the Native community said the difference between white people and Indians is that Indian people know they are oppressed but don't feel powerless. White people don't feel oppressed, but feel powerless. Deconstruct that dis empowerment. Part of the mythology that they've been teaching you is that you have no power. Power is not brute force and money; power is in your spirit. Power is in your soul. It is what your ancestors, your old people gave you. Power is in the earth; it is in your relationship to the earth." - Winona LaDuke, Anishinaabe.
Overview
Decolonizing social work with Indigenous Peoples' communities is relatively recent in origin and is new to mainstream "Western" social work literature, approaches, and theory. Understanding decolonizing social work requires deconstructing the American Master Narrative about Indigenous Peoples and the contemporary and issues that are ignored, trivialized, or censored in the grand American Master Narrative.
The issues covered in this course of study include:
- History
- Education
- Treaties
- Sovereignty
- Self-determination
- religions
- natural resources
- legislation
- jurisdiction
- reservation and/or urban status
- federal trust relationship
- tribal economics and enterprises
- American Indian policy
- federal recognition
- current issues, both regional and local
The intent of this course of study is to prepare students to develop an understanding of- and support-for Indigenousness and Sovereignty (Self-Determination). It promotes awareness of the colonization and decolonization processes affecting Indigenous Peoples and an understanding of how social workers can participate in the solutions of problems affecting these groups.
Watch a video overview
Watch: Video Introduction to Decolonizing Social Work
Course Resources
Example Syllabus (provided by Michelle Rainer, Humboldt State University)